Ricky Hatton has received the backing of none other than Sugar Ray Leonard.

The boxing legend, who won world titles at five different weights, believes the Hitman has what it takes to snatch Kostya Tszyu's light-welterweight crown when they meet in Manchester this weekend.

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Leonard has revealed that he has been monitoring Hatton's rise to the brink of glory and insists the challenger's all-action style and physical strength will prove too much for the reigning IBF champion.

"I watch Ricky Hatton all the time," he told The Sun. "There is so much about him that sometimes I think he is perpetual motion.

"He is aggressive, has the heart of a lion, never gives up and is never intimidated. I love watching him - he is very good for boxing. British boxing needs a Ricky Hatton right now.

"He is a throwback to the old days - an excellent fighter and a nice kid with it as well.

"It is a major test against Tszyu but I honestly believe it will be Ricky's time. He is naturally bigger than Tszyu and that will be a big deciding factor."

The support for unbeaten Hatton comes on the back of Tszyu's own revelation that he plans to adopt similar tactics against the Briton that saw Sugar Ray triumph against middleweight rival and fight favourite Marvin Hagler on a memorable night at Caesars Palace in 1987.

Leonard's famous fleet-of-foot and fist and speed around the ring nullified Hagler's legendary strength and led to a split decision success for the challenger in what was Ring Magazine's fight and upset of the year.

Tszyu has been watching the fight as part of his preparation and believes he may well have to get on his bike at the MEN Arena to cope with Hatton's come-forward style - even though he is not known for boxing off the back foot himself.

"Hagler was a big pressure fighter like Hatton but Leonard was able to turn off the pressure by using boxing skills," said Tszyu. "Maybe these will be similar tactics for me."

The champion, who will be competing for a world title for the 15th time, also claims that Hatton's infamous body-punching is largely on "swing and hope" and says he has seen weaknesses in his style that he can exploit.

But Leonard insists that the 26-year-old Manchurian has the focus, desire and demeanour to become world champion - and stay there.

"I have always said that being champion is one thing, staying there is something else entirely," he said.

"You have to remain humble. I never said anything derogatory about an opponent - Ricky is like that too."

http://www.skysports.com/skysports/boxing/hattonvtszyu

Ray Leonard had no reason to say anything derogatory towards his opponent. People loved him and he was at the right place at the right time (Ali just having retired and stuff.).

As far as Kostya saying maybe he might have to be on his toes against Hatton that's bull. He's going to discourage Hatton with power.

P.S. I got an off-subject question for you, Juy, what do you think of Sugar Ray Leonard?

Tonight is when we find out if Phillips' win over Tszyu was a fluke. Hatton will probably fight an all-out assault like Phillips did. If the loss vs Phillips was not a fluke, Hatton will win because he is just as good as Phillips was at that time, which is pretty damn good.

P.S. I got an off-subject question for you, Juy, what do you think of Sugar Ray Leonard?
It's been said that "McCallum had the talent but Leonard got the publicity."

Leonard was obviously a nice guy and one of the greatest Welterweight's of all-time. He was wonderful to watch, but there are other fighters (eg Herol Graham, Mike McCallum etc) who had just as much talent but never had anywhere near the opportunities that Leonard had. I respect Hagler and Larry Holmes more because they worked their way up, they couldn't write their own ticket because they didn't enter the pro's with an Olympic Gold. Especially Hagler, he had a few losses when he was climbing the ranks but stuck at it and will be remembered as the greatest Middleweight ever.

Oh and the REAL Sugar Ray, the original Sugar Ray, and the greatest Sugar Ray, was Ray Robinson ;)

It's been said that "McCallum had the talent but Leonard got the publicity."

Leonard was obviously a nice guy and one of the greatest Welterweight's of all-time. He was wonderful to watch, but there are other fighters (eg Herol Graham, Mike McCallum etc) who had just as much talent but never had anywhere near the opportunities that Leonard had. I respect Hagler and Larry Holmes more because they worked their way up, they couldn't write their own ticket because they didn't enter the pro's with an Olympic Gold. Especially Hagler, he had a few losses when he was climbing the ranks but stuck at it and will be remembered as the greatest Middleweight ever.

Oh and the REAL Sugar Ray was Ray Robinson ;)
i think i heard a quote one time that the cubans said that ray leonard and muhammad ali where the only americans to ever fight like the great cubans, refering to their great styles.

i think i heard a quote one time that the cubans said that ray leonard and muhammad ali where the only americans to ever fight like the great cubans, refering to their great styles.

Which great Cubans were they referring to?

Which great Cubans were they referring to?
guys like kid chocolate and kid gavilan, i think muhammad ali studied the great cuban boxer luis rodriguez in the gym, so thats maybe where he got some of that technique from, just learning off some of those guys.

lenords wrong tzu is bigger tzu benches 260 and got a 43 inch chest hatton got 38.5 or 39

the more ur in the ring, the more u kno about the sport
mayb leaonard got sumin here

I really respect Sugar Ray but I have to take this with a grain of salt. He does come over to the UK and is a very good self promoter. I think he is doing a bit of a Pele. Everytime Pele gets of a plane in a new country he announces they are good enough to win the World Cup (of soccer before you ask)

However I do hope he's right.

I really respect Sugar Ray but I have to take this with a grain of salt. He does come over to the UK and is a very good self promoter. I think he is doing a bit of a Pele. Everytime Pele gets of a plane in a new country he announces they are good enough to win the World Cup (of soccer before you ask)

However I do hope he's right.


conspiracy theory!! are they brother pele and SRL :p

the more ur in the ring, the more u kno about the sport
mayb leaonard got sumin here

Leonard was a great boxer, but that doesn't mean he can break apart matchups all that well. In the ring is one thing, comparing styles of two opponents, when you are neither of them, is a different thing.

lenords wrong tzu is bigger tzu benches 260 and got a 43 inch chest hatton got 38.5 or 39
I can bench 315 and cant kick none off their asses. :D

I can bench 315 and cant kick none off their asses. :D

But you're still bigger than they are. Ray said Ricky was bigger than Kostya, but he's really not.

And if you ran the same night over and over again with the exact same circumstances your certain to get different results. Thats the joy of boxing, you just can never be sure.

leonard's money is on tszyu, believe that

hes just trying to convince the masses to all bet on hatton so he gets rich

I think Hatton is naturally bigger than Tszyu, he gets close to 200lbs between fights just naturally and Tszyu probably couldn't even get that heavy if he just sat down and ate alday for a year.

I think we all learned from listening to Ray on the Contender that we cannot use him for his analyitical skills. He was a great fighter but just blathers nonsense and looks uncomfortable when he is on camera. After the Contender fights when the credits were rolling he would say some of the supidist things I have ever heard! And what is with this guy who retired about seventy thousand times getting all over De La Rosa for dropping out of the competition with an injured wrist? I mean, c'mon Ray he who has not sinned...

Sugar Ray, terrific boxer leave it at that ray.

I think we all learned from listening to Ray on the Contender that we cannot use him for his analyitical skills. He was a great fighter but just blathers nonsense and looks uncomfortable when he is on camera. After the Contender fights when the credits were rolling he would say some of the supidist things I have ever heard! And what is with this guy who retired about seventy thousand times getting all over De La Rosa for dropping out of the competition with an injured wrist? I mean, c'mon Ray he who has not sinned...
That's abit harsh :)

I can bench 315 and cant kick none off their asses. :D

how much u weigh

i bench 375

but i never bench press i just swim a whole lot

im a dirty ass ***** ill go scubaing in a reservoir

lenords wrong tzu is bigger tzu benches 260 and got a 43 inch chest hatton got 38.5 or 39

Tszyu is strong and big for 140 but Hatton comes in like a small middleweight.

I'll bet Sugar also said Contender was going to be a good show.

But you're still bigger than they are. Ray said Ricky was bigger than Kostya, but he's really not.
"Naturally" heavy is what he said. Meaning, between fights Ricky is walking around comfortably heavier than Zoo.

Sugar Ray deserves respect not just for his skills but because he was one of the only boxers ever to manage his own career... If he got more publicity and bigger purses than McCallum etc. it's because he was a businessman as well..

I've met him at an after dinner speaking thing and the man is a legend!

I think SUgar Ray Lenard sez all the rite things about hatton, he is the real deal

"I'll bet Sugar also said Contender was going to be a good show."

Contender was a good show.. Hardly the most skilled boxers ever (LOL!) but it brought the great game to the masses again!

I'm sure boxing is more popular now that before it aired!

SUGAR RAY NEVER FAILS! HATTON DID BEAT KOSTYA, sugar is one of the smartest fighters in history he knows his **** unlike alot of these morons who never stepped in a ring before, who talk crap about him

Sugar Ray knows boxing *****es. I didn't give Hatton much of a chance but I have to give him serious props. Good for Hatton for finally really making a name for himself beyond the UK. Now he really needs to start fighting outside the country if he wants to be a true highly regarded champ.

it is funny how alot of people did not believe sugar ray and said he dont know **** but the same people who talk **** about ray have never been champions or skilled boxers in there life! haahah

Alright, guys..

Sugar Ray was right now can we all get off his nuts and on to mine?

it is funny how alot of people did not believe sugar ray and said he dont know **** but the same people who talk **** about ray have never been champions or skilled boxers in there life! haahah


As opposed to you, a champion and skilled boxer because you listen to Sugar Ray???

That's dumb. Sugar Ray doesn't know everything because he's Sugar Ray.

He thought Oscar De La Hoya would beat Bernard Hopkins. Where were you kissing his ass then?

So fuking what.

SRL said Tito was the best fighter on the planet and was going to knock Bernard Hopkins out. What does that tell you?

If you want someone who is good at predicting fights...look at Roy Jones Jr....he is the best I have ever seen at that.

As opposed to you, a champion and skilled boxer because you listen to Sugar Ray???

That's dumb. Sugar Ray doesn't know everything because he's Sugar Ray.

He thought Oscar De La Hoya would beat Bernard Hopkins. Where were you kissing his ass then?

And DLH was beating Hopkins before that joke of a ko.